April 2025 brings another month of structured, top-level training at the Modern Chess Academy. With a focus on practical and psychological aspects of chess improvement, this month’s program will sharpen your skills in defense, calculation, and advantage conversion.
Topic: Must-Know Defensive Techniques
Coach: GM Ioannis Papaioannou
📅 Dates: 09.04.2025 and 23.04.2025
💡 Focus: Learn how top players defend resourcefully under pressure. This month’s topic covers must-know defensive techniques such as anticipating threats, consolidating advantages, seeking counterplay, and choosing the right moment to transition into favorable endgames.
Program:
📍 Paris Time | New York Time
🕠 17:30 - 19:00 | 11:30 - 13:00 – Must-Know Defensive Techniques – Part 1
🕢 19:30 - 21:00 | 13:30 - 15:00 – Must-Know Defensive Techniques – Part 2
📍 Paris Time | New York Time
🕠 17:30 - 19:00 | 11:30 - 13:00 – Must-Know Defensive Techniques – Part 3
🕢 19:30 - 21:00 | 13:30 - 15:00 – Must-Know Defensive Techniques – Part 4
🕤 21:00 - 21:30 | 15:00 - 15:30 – Q&A Session with GM Grigor Grigorov and GM Petar Arnaudov
Topic: Looking for Options and Prophylactic Thinking in Calculation
Coach: GM Swapnil Dhopade
📅 Dates: 17.04.2025 and 24.04.2025
💡 Focus: Learn to expand your search horizon during calculation by identifying your opponent’s ideas and looking for quiet defensive resources. GM Dhopade will teach you how to integrate prophylactic thinking into your calculation process to uncover hidden tactics and avoid costly mistakes.
Program:
📍 Paris Time | New York Time
🕠 17:30 - 19:00 | 11:30 - 13:00 – Looking for Options – Part 1
🕢 19:30 - 21:00 | 13:30 - 15:00 – Looking for Options – Part 2
📍 Paris Time | New York Time
🕠 17:30 - 19:00 | 11:30 - 13:00 – Looking for Options – Part 3
🕢 19:30 - 21:00 | 13:30 - 15:00 – Looking for Options – Part 4
🕤 21:00 - 21:30 | 15:00 - 15:30 – Q&A Session with GM Grigor Grigorov and GM Petar Arnaudov
Topic: Conversion of an Advantage – Must-Know Strategies
Instructor: IM Siegfried Baumegger
💡 Focus: Learn how to convert both static and dynamic advantages, understand typical transformation techniques, and avoid the most common mistakes made during winning positions.
📅 Training Stages:
✅ 04.04.2025: Receive 15 test positions (Stage 1 – Converting a Static Advantage)
✅ 11.04.2025: Receive annotated solutions for Stage 1 + 15 new test positions (Stage 2 – Converting a Dynamic Advantage)
✅ 18.04.2025: Receive annotated solutions for Stage 2 + 15 new test positions (Stage 3 – Transformation of Advantages)
✅ 25.04.2025: Receive annotated solutions for Stage 3 + 15 new test positions (Stage 4 – Typical Mistakes When Converting an Advantage)
✅ 30.04.2025: Receive a PGN file with solutions for all 60 positions + a 2-hour instructional video
📅 Dates:
✅ 23.04.2025: Deadline to submit opening questions to academy@modern-chess.com
✅ 30.04.2025: Receive expert video answers by GM Grigor Grigorov & GM Petar Arnaudov
💡 How It Works:
📌 Academy members can submit their opening-related questions. Our team of experts will select the most interesting and relevant ones and provide detailed video explanations.
📌 Exclusively for 6-month subscribers
💡 The Mentorship Program offers personalized chess guidance, structured training plans, and one-on-one progress tracking.
How It Works:
🔹 Complete the Mentorship Questionnaire (available after subscribing)
🔹 Submit 20 recent games for analysis
🔹 Get assigned a mentor suited to your playing style
🔹 Kickoff Meeting (30 minutes): Discuss goals, review games, create a plan
🔹 Monthly Check-ins (30 minutes): Track progress, adjust plans, analyze games
📌 Who Can Join?
✅ New 6-Month Subscribers: Automatically enrolled after completing the questionnaire
✅ Existing 6-Month Subscribers: Eligible immediately. Even if your membership expires within six months, you will continue working with your mentor.
✅ Live GM-led training sessions in strategy & tactics
✅ Guided Practice – structured, hands-on learning with annotated test positions
✅ Opening Lab – answers to your opening questions from top experts
✅ Mentorship Program – one-on-one progress tracking & game analysis
✅ Recordings, PGN files & additional digital products for long-term improvement
📌 Modern Chess Academy is your complete structured training platform.
💡 Join now and make April 2025 your most focused and productive chess month yet!